Stylish Remembrance: Funeral Floristry is Diverse

Funeral floristry covers two main areas: creating arrangements for the burial or memorial service, and providing flowers that are laid or planted on graves. However, funeral floristry is typically associated only with the arrangements and flowers made or ordered for the day of the memorial service.

Most funeral arrangements and wreaths feature ribbons of various colors. Traditionally, however, the ribbons are white with black lettering. The text on these ribbons usually includes a final farewell to the deceased, words of sympathy, and the name of the person who sent the floral arrangement.

While a funeral wreath was once absolutely standard, it has increasingly given way to floral arrangements and tied bouquets. However, its significance remains. It originates from the victory wreaths of antiquity, signifying that one is bestowing honor and recognition upon the deceased. The basic frame of the wreath can vary in size. It's entwined with fir greenery, which is why the process is called "wreath-binding."

The wreath is intricately adorned with flowers and natural materials as desired. Usually, subtly colored blooms in white or cream are incorporated, with the calla lily and white lily commonly holding special significance as funeral flowers. However, such a wreath can also be decorated with brushwood and berry vines.

The relatively elaborate process of wreath-binding means wreaths are significantly more expensive than flower bouquets of the same size. However, the choice of the appropriate arrangement isn't dependent on price, but rather on its symbolism. The choice of flowers speaks volumes about the relationship with the deceased. For instance, more distant relatives and acquaintances often lay down a small bouquet of flowers without a printed ribbon, usually wrapped with a simple black band, known as mourning crepe.